Minnesota Sports Forum

lipoli390 wrote:Let's not forget that Ricky averaged 16 points, 10.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds after the all-star break last season, hitting 42% of his field goals and nearly 36% of his threes. I believe that was against NBA competition. :). Definitely better overall numbers than Teague (similar 3-point shooting numbers)

Is Ricky going to hit 50+% of his field goal attempts next season in the NBA? Of course not. But his tremendous shooting numbers against the competition he's facing this summer simply show a continuation of what we saw late last season -- i.e., improved and far more consistent shooting. If he performs next season the way he did after the allstar break last season, then I'd consider the Teague-Rubio swap a really bad deal for the Wolves -- softened only slightly by the acquisition of OKC's first round pick.

I love Rubio I always have and I always will however...

Looking at the box scores the competition this summer before Croatia looks to be really underwhelming.

So if you want to look at the numbers...

Rubio in April 2017 .322 FG percentage .150 3pt percentage.

Rubio had one above average shooting month last season which was March. Otherwise for any other player he was below average.

And...yesterday against Croatia he returned to the type of shooting numbers we would expect based on his resume and helped lead his fairly loaded Spain team to an impressive team 36% FG!

Meanwhile that Teague guy had 3 straight months where he shot over 40% from 3 last year. After the AS break he averaged nearly the same stats Rubio did except only 7.5 assists but turned the ball over only 2 times a game compared to almost 3 for Rubio. He also took more 3's and was simply a more efficient player. He was unbelievably efficient in the playoffs with a lower usage rate than in the regular season which is worth considering when you look at the Wolves roster.

I'm optimistic that Rubio did turn some sort of corner last year as a scorer and shooter and that the Jazz is a terrific spot for him to actually become the best version of himself he can ever be. I also think that he isn't going to be some sort of all-star caliber player either which if he could actually shoot and score at an average-ish NBA level he would be in the conversation. Regardless I don't think he was the guy for this team and roster (both for him and the Wolves players that would have been around him) going forward. We will see. I still think the Wolves sold high on Rubio and Teague is being underrated by a number of fans and again I will admit I was one of them.

This is just a counterpoint I don't mean to knock anyone for the optimism for Rubio or skeptism about adding Teague.

monsterpile wrote:

lipoli390 wrote:Let's not forget that Ricky averaged 16 points, 10.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds after the all-star break last season, hitting 42% of his field goals and nearly 36% of his threes. I believe that was against NBA competition. :). Definitely better overall numbers than Teague (similar 3-point shooting numbers)

Is Ricky going to hit 50+% of his field goal attempts next season in the NBA? Of course not. But his tremendous shooting numbers against the competition he's facing this summer simply show a continuation of what we saw late last season -- i.e., improved and far more consistent shooting. If he performs next season the way he did after the allstar break last season, then I'd consider the Teague-Rubio swap a really bad deal for the Wolves -- softened only slightly by the acquisition of OKC's first round pick.

I love Rubio I always have and I always will however...

Looking at the box scores the competition this summer before Croatia looks to be really underwhelming.

So if you want to look at the numbers...

Rubio in April 2017 .322 FG percentage .150 3pt percentage.

Rubio had one above average shooting month last season which was March. Otherwise for any other player he was below average.

And...yesterday against Croatia he returned to the type of shooting numbers we would expect based on his resume and helped lead his fairly loaded Spain team to an impressive team 36% FG!

Meanwhile that Teague guy had 3 straight months where he shot over 40% from 3 last year. After the AS break he averaged nearly the same stats Rubio did except only 7.5 assists but turned the ball over only 2 times a game compared to almost 3 for Rubio. He also took more 3's and was simply a more efficient player. He was unbelievably efficient in the playoffs with a lower usage rate than in the regular season which is worth considering when you look at the Wolves roster.

I'm optimistic that Rubio did turn some sort of corner last year as a scorer and shooter and that the Jazz is a terrific spot for him to actually become the best version of himself he can ever be. I also think that he isn't going to be some sort of all-star caliber player either which if he could actually shoot and score at an average-ish NBA level he would be in the conversation. Regardless I don't think he was the guy for this team and roster (both for him and the Wolves players that would have been around him) going forward. We will see. I still think the Wolves sold high on Rubio and Teague is being underrated by a number of fans and again I will admit I was one of them.

This is just a counterpoint I don't mean to knock anyone for the optimism for Rubio or skeptism about adding Teague.

Excellent counterpoint, Monster! Well done.

Q12543 wrote:My larger point is that the more aggressive offensive version of Rubio we saw late last year has carried over to FIBA. Keep in mind that Rubio's career average in FIBA competition is 4.6 PPG.

He will need to continue that attacking mentality at Utah, where they are starving for scorers and more of the burden will be on him to create offense. His more prominent role with Team Spain seems to be a nice prelude for what Utah will need from him.

As for how he ranks compared to Teague, I think they are in that same middle tier of NBA starting point guards. Thibs just happens to think Teague fits his system better. Time will tell.....

You are right Q the aggressiveness is a big deal. I'd have to look again but I also wonder if the team needs him to do more this time around. Ok after looking at their team stats and players....so JC Navarro looks like he may be slowing down quite a bit (15mpg last year in euroleague) and Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Lull aren't playing. Rubio and Sergio Rodriguez are probably going to be playing minutes together because unless there are some new young guys I don't know anything about (very possible) those guys are the best guards on the team and the team will need them to be somewhat aggressive creating and even looking to score. Spain's bigs and Abrenes can space the floor so that helps too. This could really stack up to actually help Rubio in the regular season instead of basically hamper him. It may be a bit of a perfect storm of Tubio improving and Spain having a legit need for him to do more. It feels weird but Spain has kinda underachieved lately in national team play. They are probably by far the most talented team in this tourney.

Alexey Shved is killing it. Averaging 24 points and 7 assists with good shooting percentages.

KiwiMatt wrote:Alexey Shved is killing it. Averaging 24 points and 7 assists with good shooting percentages.

I always knew he would come around.... once he changed his face.

Ricky has made 12 of 25 3pt shots at the tournament. Sure the 3pt line is a foot closer but that's quite impressive.

Kiwi, yes Shved has been performing outstanding lately. Russia crushed Croatia with Shed leading the way with 27 points and 12 assists and team leading +21, then they beat Greece and Shved scored 9 of his 26 points in fourth quarter.

If you have a chance, I recommend to watch today Slovenia - Spain game. Both teams have been playing really well and haven't yet lost a single game. Slovenia's 18 year old wonder kid Luka Doncic is really fun player to watch. He is like 6'8 version of young Rubio with better athletic ability and outside shot.

Ricky will always be king of the small, statistically irrelevant, sample size. Causing fans to dream about what if and reminisce about those glorious 3 week stretches when he shot well and his teams played 500 ball. I wish the guy the best but have given up hope that he will ever be an average shooter.

Spain true to form was a massive disappointment getting crushed by Slovenia today. What is with Spain? Is their coach terrible? They have been underachieving for years. I'm truely baffled. Oh and that Rubio guy has come down to earth with the shooting in the past few games sometimes against more legit competition like today and Germany.

Rubio has turned the corner so many times he's back where he started.